While South Africa is ready to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 (SDG 6), it is critical to cooperate on various matters, such as water use and scarcity, wastewater and water quality, sanitation and hygiene, drinking water and the overall ecosystem.

The Water Sector Leadership Group (WSLG) says that its various partners have agreed to tighten the management of water and sanitation with the aim of accelerating service delivery among communities and meeting SDG 6 by 2030.

This followed a special meeting at the request of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) last month, with the Water Research Commission, water entities, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the South African Water Caucus, the National Business Initiative, Statistics South Africa, the Strategic Water Partners Network, the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority and catchment management agencies among the attendees.

The department’s masterplan on water and sanitation is the epicentre and guiding compass for the WSLG, with a departmental SDG working group established to continue the work of the sector group through 11 task teams that will divide the work according to their expertise.

SDG 6 has six targets and two subtargets focused on water services, including sanitation, and water resource management that must be achieved by 2030.

The first target is to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all and access to adequate and equitable sanitation; ensure hygiene for all citizens; and end the practice of open defecation.

Another target is to increase water-use efficiency across all sectors to ensure sustainable withdrawals and the supply of fresh water and to address water scarcity.

However, the WSLG’s work to attain the SDG 6 goals has been hampered by inconsistency of data management and an inability to spend the allocated funds efficiently, effectively and sustainably, besides others.

“The sector also needs more money to address these gaps as they continue haunting our vision for 2030 and beyond. An enabling environment is important if we are to spend the allocated resources accordingly,” the WSLG says.

“[The national water and sanitation masterplan] was developed in partnership with all relevant organs of State and water-sector stakeholders to give effect to local, regional, national, continental and international water and sanitation delivery targets and commitments,” says DWS strategic and emergency projects deputy director-general Trevor Balzer.

He adds that the aim is to ensure integrated planning and development across the entire water value chain

Further, DWS acting director-general Deborah Mochotlhi appeals to partners to be ready for the uptake of advanced technology and innovation.